A native of Yorkshire, he was powerfully awakened to a sense of his lost condition through the instrumentality of a sermon preached by Dr. Coke, and in seeking the Lord with his whole heart became the subject of a sound conversion. He entered upon the work of the ministry with many fears, though in obedience to the call God and his church, and with an earnest solicitude for the salvation of the a perishing world. He commenced his itinerancy in the year 1789, in the Norwich Circuit, and continued his active labours in the church for the space of forty-one years; when, by the necessity of age and infirmities, he became a Supernumerary in the year 1830. he was a man of unblemished character, a great lover of the Methodist doctrines and discipline, and a successful Minister of Jesus Christ. It was not long after he ceased from the active duties of the ministry, that he became the subject of repeated attacks of paralysis, which considerably impaired his powers both of body and mind; but in "patience he possessed his soul," and murmured not at the "chastening of the Lord." On some occasions he was enabled to converse freely and cheerfully concerning the things of God. Some of his last words were, "Tell my brethren in the ministry that I die in the cordial belief of those doctrines which I have preached for the last forty years, and that I hope to meet them all in heaven.." He died at Rochdale, January 19th, 1833, in the seventieth year of his age.

The engraving below is of Robert Crowther. This copy was found in the archives at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

A letter from Robert Crowther to a gentleman named Beech is included here. In this letter he refers to Samuel Adjai Crowther ( the former slave), and a African Bishop, who took his brother's name (Jonathan Crowther)  for his own.

plp 31-7-7  Grimsby Sept 27,1823

Mr Beech,

Dear Brother,

It affords me great pleasure to hear Bro. Isaac has a desire of good things all others are minor considerations, the salvation of the Soul is our all. I have desired Mr. Nirshaw to send Mr. Wesley's notes in Mr. Pelter parcel and charge it to me when Bro. Isaac has read these all through with prayer then he will drop me a line he shall have Mr. Wesley's works, but I thought the scriptures should go before the works and he will read one at once better. Altogether, and when the works are carefully read he may write of me. I cannot save his Soul but if I can find means I will I feel willing to do anything that is in my power for his eternal good. I lately sent Bro. Samuel, Dr. Coke's cottage Bible and other things hoping it would not ----- the gospel. He wants to read it. I trust him if he was to know to get suitable apparel. If he would go to the Methodist Chapel, he should not want them if he would let me know. Oh may the God of my fathers save his precious soul. I hope these items will find you well, and you may read this to Brother Isaac.

I am your very affectionate and obliged Bro.

Robert Crowther

A man names himself after Jonathan Crowther

Apparently this African was a remarkable man. Here is a summary mentioned of him from an encyclopedia:

Doctor of Divinity- a native of Africa, whose original name was Adjai, was captured and enslaved by Mohammedan traders, and subsequently released and taken by an English ship-of-war to Sierra Leone. He was baptized in 1825, when he adopted the name of an English clergyman. After accompanying the first Niger Expedition, he was sent to the Church Missionary College in London , was ordained, and returned to Africa. He accompanied the second Niger Expedition, was consecrated Bishop of Niger Territory, West Africa, in 1864, and presented with a gold watch by the Royal Geographical Society in 1880. See Good Out of Evil; an Authentic Biography of the Rev. S. Crowther, London, 1852, and the Slave-Boy who became Bishop of the Niger, London,1888, Besides the grammar and Vocabulary of the Yoruba Language mentioned and translation of parts of the New Testament & etc. into that language, he published; 1. Journal of an Expedition up the Niger and Tshadda Rivers in 1854, London 18555, 2. Iscamaibo Primer, London 1857, 3. Nupe Primer, London 1860, 4. A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Nupe Language, London,1864,5. A Charge Delivered at Lokoja, on the Banks of the Niger, London,1870, 6. Niger Mission; Bishop Crowther's Report of the Overland Journey from Lokoja to Bida, on the River Niger, London,1872. With J. C. Taylor, The Gospel on the Banks of the Niger; Journals and Notices of the Native Missionaries accompanying the Niger Expedition of 1857-1859, London 1859.

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